Robert Pollack
Columbia University
Since 1981 Columbia has offered "The Theory and Practice of Science," a course designed for non-science majors fulfilling a portion of their science distribution requirement. Unlike standard models, this course introduces sufficient mathematics so that original scientific papers may be used as a basis for study. By rigorously examining particular developments and discoveries of contemporary biology, the course acquaints the non-scientist with what scientists do; how scientists approach technical, methodological and philosophical problems; and how the theory and practice of a science evolve together.
Format of the class:
Recitation schedule is arranged at the first meeting of the class.
Classroom participation and attendance at weekly recitations are expected.
The grade for this course is derived from classroom participation, recitation
quizzes, a midterm, and a final exam. Final covers material after spring
break.
Syllabus:
| CLASS | TOPIC | READING-REPRINT | READING-BOOK |
| 1 | Intro: Why is biology a science? Measurements and numbers I: exponents | Watson, 1993, tables | |
| 2 | Darwin I: main ideas | Darwin, Ch 1-4 | |
| 3 | Darwin II: difficulties | Darwin, Ch 14 | |
| 4 | Measurements and numbers II: precision vs accuracy | Wald, 1993 | |
| 5 | Introduction to computer models | ||
| 6 | A short history of life on Earth | Schrödinger Ch 1 | |
| 7 | Mendel I: choosing a system - biology of the pea; dominance | Mendel, 1886, Figures | |
| 8 | Mendel II: return of the recessive | \ | Schrödinger Ch 2 |
| 9 | Mendel III: stable characters (genes) | \ | |
| 10 | Weissman I: stable chromosomes | Weissman 1893 | Schrödinger Ch 3 |
| 11 | Weissman II: mitosis, meiosis | \ | |
| 12 | Morgan I: choosing a system - biology of the fly | Morgan, 1910 | |
| 13 | Morgan II; Sturtevant I: recombination | \ , Sturtevant | Schrödinger Ch 4-end |
| 14 | Sturtevant II: genes area part of a chromosome | Sturtevant | |
| 15 | Schrödinger: the gene is an aperiodic crystal | Schrödinger | |
| 16 | Review for Email midterm, posted today, reply must be posted by midnight tonight | ||
| SPRING BREAK | Begin Watson, Pollack | ||
| 17 | Avery I; biological chemistry | Avery, 1944 | |
| 18 | Avery II: choosing the system - the biology of bacteria DNA Transformation I: | \ | |
| 19 | Avery III: the gene is not a protein | \ | |
| 20 | Lederberg I: mutations are Darwinian | Lederberg, 1952 | |
| 21 | Lederberg II: Lysenko: the gene is political | \ , Lysenko, 1953 | |
| 22 | Watson I: DNA is a hereditable chemical | Watson and Crick, 1953 | Watson |
| 23 | Watson II: DNA is a genetic text | \ | \ |
| 24 | Reading DNA I: molecular word processor | Mullis, 1990 | Pollack |
| 25 | Reading DNA II: molecular genetics | Bhattacharyya, 1990 | \ |
| 26 | Reading DNA III: molecular evolution | Ayala, 1992 | \ |
| 27 | Reading DNA IV: transgenetics | Gordon, 1981 | \ |
| 28 | Review for final exam |